When US Representative Greg Walden, W7EQI (R-OR), learned December 16 that he will be chairing the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet when the 112th Congress convenes in January, he let the world know about it by tweeting the news in Morse code. “Just the ham radio operator in me having fun,” he posted to his official Web page.

According to its Web site, the subcommittee has jurisdiction over “interstate and foreign telecommunications including, but not limited to all telecommunication and information transmission by broadcast, radio, wire, microwave, satellite or other mode.”

Representative Walden is a former owner of Columbia Gorge Broadcasters.

ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, was pleased to hear the news: “We’re delighted that the subcommittee is in the hands of such a well-qualified chairman. Greg was an early cosponsor of HR2160, and while he may not always be able to agree with every ARRL position, we know his door will always be open to us.”